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Fair pricing could help sustain UPI network

40 years ago August 26, 1986: Volcanic gas kills 2,000

The article commemorates the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster in Cameroon, where a limnic eruption released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide gas, leading to the asphyxiation of approximately 2,000 people and thousands of livestock. This event serves as a historical case study of a unique natural disaster involving volcanic gas emissions.

A place for Onam at Delhi table and in its heart

The article title suggests an analysis of the Onam festival, focusing on its cultural presence and significance, particularly in the context of Delhi. It implies a discussion about the festival's traditions, origins, and its broader acceptance or celebration beyond its traditional geographical boundaries.

Repairing ties with Nepal: A strategy of two hands, 10 fingers

The article discusses strategies for improving bilateral relations between India and Nepal.

Warmer oceans are sounding a warning

The article likely discusses the critical phenomenon of increasing ocean temperatures, its underlying causes, and the profound implications it holds for marine ecosystems, global climate patterns, and human societies, serving as a stark warning about the escalating climate crisis.

Buckingham Canal back in the limelight

The article discusses the renewed focus on restoring the Buckingham Canal (B'Canal) in Chennai, highlighting a proposed ₹876.35-crore plan for its navigability. It traces the canal's history from its construction in 1806 as Cochrane Canal, its expansion, and renaming to Buckingham Canal in 1878. Historically, it served as a vital and cheap transportation link for goods and passengers between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The article details its decline due to pollution from sewage and industrial effluents, slum encroachments, and the rise of alternative transport modes. It also covers past efforts for its improvement, its role as a flood carrier, and its designation as part of National Waterway 4. The current government's initiative aims to revive its functionality and address long-standing environmental issues.

Expert Explains: Why Xi Jinping may be keeping India guessing over his BRICS summit participation

The article analyzes the reasons behind the ambiguity surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping's potential attendance at an upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi. It suggests that China's suspense may be a tactical move, influenced by ongoing bilateral tensions, particularly India's actions regarding Arunachal Pradesh and China's historical claims. The piece highlights past instances of Xi's absence from major summits (like the 2023 G20 in New Delhi and a 2025 BRICS summit in Brazil) and links them to the state of India-China relations, including border disputes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Experts suggest China might be seeking concessions from India on issues like investment, visas, and its stance on Tibetan and Taiwan issues, or signaling against India's deepening alignment with the US.

Iran, Oman hold talks on managing Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman are engaged in discussions to establish a framework for managing ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. This framework includes a proposed joint temporary navigational corridor and efforts to clear mines from the waterway, with the ultimate goal of a permanent shipping corridor and joint administration. The article notes the Strait's critical role in global oil trade and highlights the uncertain stance of the United States, with past threats from President Trump towards Oman.

Identify, eliminate threats before they grow big: Amit Shah urges security agencies

Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined India's security policy, emphasizing proactive threat identification and elimination, particularly concerning geopolitical instability, radicalisation, cyber misinformation, and illegal immigration. He detailed a four-pronged border security strategy and the government's aim for an "infiltrator-free" and "narcotics-free" India. The article highlights the implementation of new criminal laws, the 'Prahar' anti-terror framework, the Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026-2029, and the crucial role of technology (CCTNS, ICJS, NatGrid, NAFIS, AI) and Centre-State coordination in strengthening internal security and bringing fugitive offenders to justice.

Tamil Nadu can lead India on revenue reform

The article discusses Tamil Nadu's initiative to form a high-level Revenue Augmentation Committee, chaired by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, aimed at modernizing the definition and management of state revenue. It highlights the need for Tamil Nadu to strengthen its own-tax and non-tax revenues, improve fiscal buoyancy, and achieve greater fiscal self-reliance, given a decline in its own-tax revenue as a percentage of GSDP. The author advocates for adopting international standards, specifically the IMF's Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM 2014), to clearly distinguish genuine government revenue from financing activities like borrowing and asset sales. The article suggests that by improving tax administration, reviewing user charges, royalties, and returns from public assets, Tamil Nadu can establish a sustainable revenue base and set a benchmark for other Indian states and the Union government in public financial management reform.

Root causes: On India’s youth crisis

The article discusses India's youth crisis, linking it to high costs of competitive exam coaching, declining undergraduate enrollment, and a severe youth employment problem. It attributes these issues to structural problems in the Indian economy, particularly the stagnant manufacturing sector's share in Gross Value Added (GVA) and a significant decline in corporate investment. The author argues that mere free coaching is insufficient and calls for increased public investment in industrial capacity, export-driven industrial support, and a more balanced regulatory environment to create jobs.

Escape velocity: On what India’s space sector must focus on

The article discusses the evolution of India's space sector from a state-led prestige project to a modern commercial enterprise. It highlights the challenges faced by India's private space sector, particularly high launch costs and low launch frequency compared to global competitors like SpaceX. The author argues that India's space sector needs to shift its focus from 'aura' to economic viability, emphasizing jobs, long-term capital, tax revenues, and competitive heavy-lift launches to attract global talent and investment, rather than relying solely on monumental missions.